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Introduction

Back in August, we did ten days of prayer and fasting as a church. Have you noticed how often I refer back to it? Talk about a blaring confirmation of the purpose and power of prayer and fasting.

On the third day of that fast, I sensed overwhelming victory in my spirit. So much so that just the residue of this supernatural, overwhelming joy stuck with me for two days.

The Holy Spirit revealed to me that the time of sackcloth and ash are over. No more weeping. No more sorrow. Clothe yourself with strength! Put on your beautiful clothes! Shout and sing with joy! Break into joyful song! The Lord has redeemed America! All the ends of the earth will see the victory of our God.

This was all very real in my spirit but very contrary to my thoughts. I am an optimist by default, but after all that has happened, I struggled with thoughts that America was done for.

And maybe that’s where you are. So this just sounds like crazy gibberish to you. Trust me, I get it. Nevertheless, I believe this is the truth. God has already decided to redeem America, and all the ends of the earth will see the victory of our God!

God is Redeeming America

The reason He has decided to redeem America is because of all the Christians across this nation who humbled themselves, repented, and prayed over the last three years. When we do, God fulfills His promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14 and heals our land.

So, I’ve been looking for things to verify what the Lord has revealed, and some pretty incredible things have happened recently. But I want to start by reminding you of last year’s miracle.

Roe v Wade

June 24, 2022. Do you remember that day? It was the day the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. Talk about a miracle. Did you think that would ever happen in your lifetime?

Over 63 million Americans have been killed by abortion since the Roe v Wade case gave the green light in 1973.

Much of what we see in our land results from cooperating with this evil. So, for our nation to be redeemed, that’s where it had to start. God worked a mind-blowing miracle by overturning Roe v Wade.

Let’s take a moment to let the Lord know that we remember what He did and how thankful we are that He gave us mercy and overturned that horrid plague.

Let’s also call forth the miracle of each state rising up and putting a stop to abortion once and for all.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Now, let’s talk about the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This is the position that leads the House and is even second in line to become president should something happen to the president.

On October 3, Kevin McCarthy was forced to vacate his place as speaker. They then went through three rounds of voting for the next speaker with no luck getting a majority vote. So, they decided to change the Republican candidate.

This is when Mike Johnson came on the scene—ever heard of him? Me either. He is a Representative from Louisiana and was selected as the new Republican nominee.

This was the fourth round of voting for the speaker of the house. He needed 217 to win. Mike received 220 votes.

This left everyone wondering, “Who is Mike Johnson?” The media went on a quest to find out. They asked, “What does Mike Johnson think about the issues we face today?”

He responded, “Well, go pick up a Bible and read it. That’s my worldview. I am a Bible-believing Christian.”

The media is going crazy over this. It’s great. For once, I am encouraged by the media. They are saying things like, “The Bible doesn’t just inform Mike’s worldview, it is his worldview.”

They say it like it’s a threat to the nation. Little do they know, God has raised up Mike for such a time as this.

This time last year, Pelosi was the speaker of the House. Now, we have an unashamed Bible-believing Christian as the speaker of the house. This is an incredible miracle of God.

God has redeemed America! All the ends of the earth will see the victory of our God.

Texas Rangers

One more for all you baseball fans. This is the year that most of Major League Baseball went woke. Well, all except for one team, the Texas Rangers.

Just four days ago, the Rangers took home their first-ever World Series title. This is a wonderful example of God publicly honoring those who honor Him by refusing to bow to woke ideologies.

I’m sure there are more stories I could tell. And there are many more to come. Be encouraged! God has redeemed America! All the ends of the earth will see the victory of our God.

There is still a battle to fight. But we can fight with smiles on our faces because we know the outcome. God is on our side, and we will not fail.

The next miracle of God will be the unification of the church. I’m talking Baptists, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Methodists, and all the other denominations linking arms for the first time.

Wouldn’t that be a miracle of God? It’s a crucial next step. It’s time for the full body of Christ to come together in unity.

Have you noticed that each denomination has its area of expertise? 

Baptists are phenomenal at missionary work. Presbyterians are strong in the Word of God. Pentecostals know how to access and flow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Imagine if all of us linked arms to bring our expertise together. Imagine what we could accomplish together! It’s mind-blowing to even think about. But God is going to do it.

The enemy used denominations to divide the church. Now, God is going to use them to strengthen the church.

This is a perfect representation of Ephesians 4. Let’s read it.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NLT – Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

This is incredible. Take another look at verse 16:

Ephesians 4:16 NLT – He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

This is describing what it looks like when denominations come together! We all have our own special work! And we help the other parts grow. Together, we become a healthy, whole body.

How do we pull this off? By destroying the hostility between us. It starts with us. This is a choice we can all make, and I will help you do that today.

Let’s examine two teachings from Jesus.

John 13:34-35 NLT – So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

According to Jesus, how do we identify disciples of Christ? By their love for each other.

Let me ask you a personal question. Would others know you are a disciple of Christ by this qualification?

Are you patient and kind to other believers? Not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude towards other believers? Not demanding your own way? Not irritable? Not keeping a record of wrongs?

Do you refuse to lose hope and give up on fellow believers?

Let’s head to the next one:

Matthew 7:15-20 NLT – Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

This scripture warns that there will be Christians in name only. Just like we have RINOs in the Republican party, there are CINOs in the church. How do we know who they are? By their fruit.

What kind of fruit, or actions, are we talking about?

Galatians 5:22-23 NLT – The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Well, that sounds a whole lot like 1 Corinthians 13, which is where I got all the questions about love I was asking just a bit ago.

I find it interesting that Jesus didn’t teach that we’d be known by our  charisma. Or impressive prayers. Or by spiritual gifts in operation. Or by our moving worship music. Or by our impressive programs.

And hear this one. Jesus didn’t even say that we would be known by our doctrine.

We are known by our love for each other, which is manifested in the fruits of the spirit.

So, let me ask you again, would others know you are a disciple of Christ by this qualification?

Are you known for your love? Full of Joy? Peace? Patience? Are you consistently kind, sharing the goodness of God? Are you faithful? Do you do what you say you are going to do? Are you gentle? Do you live a life of self-control?

Don’t be a CINO. Be a real, tangible Christian who consistently produces the fruit of the spirit for others to enjoy.

All that to say this: we divide ourselves based on doctrinal differences. 

Our view of the end times is a great example. We are tempted to think, “Well, if they don’t believe in the pre-tribulation rapture, are they even real Christians?”

Y’all. That’s not even a qualification. If you write off another believer because of your differences regarding end times, you reveal your immaturity. Time to grow up and bear some fruit.

Another one we deal with is the gifts of the spirit. People like us tend to get offended by the denominations that don’t operate in the gifts of the spirit.

But here’s the deal. They aren’t rejecting the Holy Spirit. They are just rejecting His gifts. The Holy Spirit is not His gifts, just like you aren’t the gifts you give to others.

Do we want them to experience the gifts of the Spirit? Yes! But this difference shouldn’t keep us from linking arms.

To drive this home, take a look at one more scripture:

Philippians 1:15-18 NLT – It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.

What do most American Christians do when they find out a preacher was preaching with selfish ambition? Gripe and complain and rake them over the coals.

That’s not the example Apostle Paul gave us. If the message about Christ is being preached, we should rejoice! Even when they have the wrong motive. Even when their end times view is different than ours. Even when they don’t operate in the gifts of the Spirit.

It’s time for denominations to unite. Each one has its own special work that helps the other parts grow. This is how we become a whole and healthy body of Christ. It’s how we become a glorious church.

How do we get it done? It starts with us. 

Together, as one body, Christ has reconciled us to God by means of His death on the cross. Our hostility towards each other has been put to death! So, don’t bring it back to life!

And now, you can carry this out to believers everywhere. Don’t let denominational differences create a wall between you and other believers. Rather, link arms with them as we build the Kingdom of God together.

The vision God has given our church to make Owasso a safe haven until He comes doesn’t happen in a silo. We can’t do it by ourselves. We must link arms with every church in Owasso who agrees that in Christ, we have what it takes to pull it off.